A Virginia Criminal Conviction can Ruin Your Life

A criminal record in the age of easy background checks can prevent you from getting the job you want being a productive member of society decades after the incident. In this harrowing story, a woman who paid here debt to society and by any reasonable standard is no threat or danger to anyone, despite a serious crime (bank robbery) in her past is denied the chance to work in a job where she can help people.

Many employers and state licensing boards will reject out of hand anyone with a criminal record, even for a minor incident.

Virginia in particular is ranked one of the worst states in allowing people with criminal records to function and prosper in terms of employment opportunities, as well as take advantage of the social safety net or public housing, public assistance, and more.

These are important things to consider before pleading guilty to any criminal charge. The implications of accepting a conviction could haunt you for the rest of your life. You need to make sure you have considered every possible criminal legal defense option that has a chance to keep your record clean and beat the charges.

Please contact us for a criminal defense consultation on any charge in Manassas/Northern Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Beach, or elsewhere in Virginia.

Criminal Law and Punishment in Charlottesville VA

Interesting article on issues of overcrowding in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail and the larger implications of the criminal justice system in Virginia.

1. Expansion of the jail does not seem like a reasonable solution, either for costs to the state of Virginia, or for the best interests of those convicted of criminal charge.
2. Better treatment programs for those with drug addiction or mental illness makes a lot of sense. People who are serving time for non-violent drug charges would be far better served by treating the problem rather than merely punishing people at great cost and with little benefit. Mental health problems are another complicated matter, but it is widely known that jails in Virginia are full of people who would have been in institutions & getting mental heath treatment a few decades back.
3. It makes little sense to put people in jail merely because they are intoxicated. The local options may be limited, but it certainly makes more sense to expand facilities to handle public drunkenness problems with a less costly and simpler solution.
4. It makes little sense that Virginia doesn't take credit cards as a means of covering bail. It is a simple, practical solution to the fact that most people don't carry much cash anymore. If it streamlines the process and saves, time, and jail space for an overnight stay, that seems like an easy fix.
5. The article states that some inmates stay in jail longer than their sentences merely because it takes a long time to process their release paperwork. No doubt additional clerical staff will ultimately save money for the system.

It is certainly a positive step that jail administrators and Virginia criminal justice experts are willing to examine these problems and work towards practical and cost effective solutions that enhance both the safety and pocketbooks of Virginia citizens at large.

If you are facing a criminal charge in Virginia, contact our defense attorney for a free legal consultation on your options and what we can do to help.

Drug Charge Punishments Biased?

Interesting study on drug possession charges, penalties, and rates of incarceration for drug arrests in Virginia Beach.

Virginia is listed as the state with the greatest disparity between likelihood of prison for drug crimes - over 13 times greater for black defendants than white defendants for similar crimes.

Possible reasons for this huge difference could be emphasis on enforcement in predominantly African American areas, and poorer access to quality legal representation in defending the charges.

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If you are facing a drug possession charge in Virginia Beach or anywhere in the state, please contact us for a criminal defense consultation on how we can help defend you and challenge the state against unfair charges.

New Virgnia Driver's Licenses Valid for 8 Years

The Virginia DMV announced on its official blog that driver's licenses will now be valid for 8 years for most Virginia drivers. The annualized costs will remain the same, $4/yr.